a nationwide survey of land trusts that protect farm and ranch land

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A Nationwide Survey of Land Trusts that Protect Farm and Ranch Land

Purpose

• Identify organizations that actively protect farm and ranch land for agriculture

• Quantify the amount of agricultural land they have protected

Survey Methodology• Started with LTA’s list of land trusts

Narrowed to those who said agricultural land was a priority Added selected non-respondents and FRPP participants Final list included 763 organizations

• Developed Web-based survey Asked about land protection activity, partnerships, easements

provisions, and activities to support agriculture Distributed in April 2012; follow up through September

• 36% response rate

Land Trusts Protected 3 Million Acres

5 Million Acres Saved

 LTs Protected More Ranchland than Cropland

• 75% of the protected agricultural land is ranchland

• Less than one third of land protected by state PACE programs is ranchland

Small Subset Did Most of the Work• 52 land trusts had protected 5,000 acres or more;

they accounted for 95% of acres protected

• 55 land trusts had acquired at least 25 easements; they accounted for 87% of easements held

• 70 land trusts had acquired at least 25 easements OR protected at least 5,000 acres

Donations Drive Activity

Accept donated easements

on farms or ranches

Buy easements on farm or ranches

Accept farms or ranches

donated in fee

Buy farms or ranches

in fee

Convey protected farms

or ranches to govt agencies

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Land Protection Activities Offeredin the Next Five Years

Type of Activity

Num

ber o

f Lan

d Tr

usts

Easement Provisions Support Ag• 92% include explicit right to use the land for agriculture

• 78% reference productivity or viability in purpose statement

• 90% permit agricultural structures; 81% allow farm houses

• Majorities permit activities that enhance income reduce expenses: Equine facilities (57%) Ancillary businesses (55%), Energy generation for on-farm use (55%) Structures for marketing agricultural products (53%)

Other Activities Support Farmers & Farming • 78% offered at least one additional activity • 120 land trusts assist with conservation planning or

the implementation of conservation practices• 70 land trusts engage in local planning• 47 land trusts help farmers with succession planning

Dozens Work to Improve Access to Land

• 67 land trusts lease land to farmers or ranchers• 76 land trusts plan to lease land in the next five years• 19 include provisions to protect future affordability

• Most active land trusts are located in states with PACE programs

• Many land trusts rely on donations

• A few land trusts use restrictive easements

Challenges

FARMLAND INFORMATION CENTERwww.farmlandinfo.org

(800) 370 – 4879